Pamela Jeffery – WOMAN of ACTION™

A Celebration of Women™

is elated to Celebrate the Life of this Canadian woman leader, one that is being celebrated for her dedication to changing the lives of women and girls. With the support of the Harper government, founded the creation of an advisory council to promote the participation of women on public and private corporate boards.

She says of her own creation, ‘Here at WXN, we inspire smart women to lead. It’s more than a tagline; it’s our contribution to making a difference in the world, to making life better for everyone’.

WOMAN of ACTION™

Pamela Jeffery

Prior to launching a successful public affairs consulting firm in Toronto in 1994, Pamela enjoyed a career as one of Canada’s ‘too few’ female lobbyists after serving as a Political Advisor in the Ontario government of David Peterson. Recognized by the National Post as a “communications wizard,” she also served as a Communications Advisor to Prime Minister Martin.

During a consulting assignment, Pamela was inspired to create a network for female leaders because one did not exist after determining she was not ‘the only woman in Canada’ who wanted to be part of a network of like-minded women. Drawing on her experience in business, government and politics, she designed WXN for women in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. This reflected her concern that all too often, leaders in the private sector were unknown to leaders in other sectors, therefore denying them the opportunity to collaborate and learn from one another as women who were often the first to assume leadership roles in their organizations.

Pamela is the Founder of the Women’s Executive Network (WXN), Canada’s national network for women in management, executive, professional and board roles across Canada. Since its founding in 1997, WXN has grown to 16,000 select women. In 2003, she founded Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100, now Canada’s preeminent awards for women in leadership. Initially based in Toronto, WXN has expanded to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Mississauga, Ottawa and Montréal.

Since its founding in 1997, WXN has grown to 17,500 select women across Canada.

In 2003, she founded Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards, now Canada’s most prestigious Awards for female leaders.

In 2008, WXN was launched in Ireland – the first step towards creating an international community of female leaders.

In 2012, Pamela was the only resident Canadian named as a charter member of Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women which recognized 60 women globally including Hillary Clinton and Melinda Gates for their dedication to changing the lives of women and girls.

In 2009, she founded the Canadian Board Diversity Council with a mandate from the federal government, now self-funded by the private sector, to increase the board representation of women, members of visible minority groups, Aboriginal peoples including First Nations, Inuit and Métis and persons with disabilities.

Pamela’s commitment to community service is extensive.

Beginning in 1991, she has served on 10 not-for-profit and public sector boards, including chairing three nominating/governance governance committees. She currently serves as a Governor of Trent University where she chairs the Nominating/Governance Committee and as a Director of Hincks-Dellcrest.

She is a past Director and President of the National Club, and a past Director of the Canadian Opera Company, Casey House Foundation, The Donwood (now the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, Richard Ivey School of Business Alumni Association, and the University of Western Ontario Alumni Association.

She currently serves as a member of the federal government’s Advisory Council for Promoting Women on Boards, the Ivey School of Business Entrepreneurship Council and is a Director of The Hincks-Dellcrest Foundation.

In addition, she has served on the Governance Committees of the Institute of Corporate Directors and the Toronto Board of Trade. She is also a member of the Ivey Entrepreneurship Council, and a past member of the Sick Kids Connection and TELUS Toronto Community Advisory Boards. Pamela holds an MBA and an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

In 2012, Pamela was the only resident Canadian named as a charter member of Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women in the leadership category which recognizes 60 women from around the world for their dedication to changing the lives of women and girls.

Other Charter members include Hillary Clinton and Melinda Gates.

Pamela holds an MBA and an HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.

She taught government relations strategy in the MBA and Executive MBA Programs at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto from 1992-2001.

Pamela shares with The Legacy Project: “A few years ago, I undertook an on-line test to identify my top strengths. I did this because self-awareness is critical for leaders—it is what we teach in our WXNWisdom mentoring program. My number one strength is my ‘tenacity’. My tenacity has definitely been a really important driver of my success.

I stand on the shoulders of my grandparents, and their grandparents. In my family, my grandparents on my father’s side both survived the Armenian genocide in the early 1900s. My great grandparents on my mother’s side gave up everything they had to leave England in the 1860s and settle in Canada.

They arrived just before the winter began and survived the first winter living in the woods on the edge of a lake.

When I think I am having a difficult day, or a difficult project or situation, I think of my ancestors and realize that my challenges pale in comparison to theirs. I am very grateful for everything that I have.”

Principles I Live By | Hard work, gratitude, curiosity and kindness.

During a consulting assignment, Pamela was inspired to create a network for female leaders because one did not exist after determining she was not ‘the only woman in Canada’ who wanted to be part of a network of like-minded women.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations).

She lives in Toronto with her husband Norman Inkster, OC who served as 18th Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, from September 1, 1987, to June 24, 1994. From 1992 until 1994 he also served as President of Interpol.

Pamela is the proud mother of two sons Stephen and Samuel. She enjoys cooking, reading, yoga and swimming.

“Governments, regulators and other stakeholders are now seeking greater gender diversity on corporate boards so here we are with a solution,” Pamela Jeffery said of the firm that bears her name.

A Celebration of Women™

welcomes this powerhouse into our global alumni with open arms, looking forward to future collaborations, bettering the lives of all women, especially young women and girls, with her focus on gender diversity and placing women into the boardroom.